Interpretive Summary: Binge ethanol administration causes brain damage that models alcoholic brain degeneration. The mechanism of binge ethanol induced degeneration (cell loss) is unknow. We hypothesize that oxidative stress (excess free radicals) and inflammation are causes of binge ethanol induced brain damage. To test the hypothesis, we administered four antioxidants: vitamin E extract, blueberry extract, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a common food additive, and ebselen (Eb), a commerical product that reduces ethanol induced liver damage, during binge ethanol treatment and measured brain degeneration.
Adult rats were treated with ethanol three times per day alone, in combination with antioxidants or a diet without antioxidants but containing the same caloric value for four days. Animals were sacrificed and the amount of brain damage and indications of new brain cell growth were measures. Some animals were used to determine the quantity of chemical factor associated with inflammatory response. The results showed that binge ethanol induced brain damage and reduced the amount of new brain cell growth. Treatment with BHT reversed binge induced brain damage and blocked the binge ethanol induced reduction of new brain cell growth. Binge ethanol treament also caused an activation of cells that remove dying or damaged cells and increased activity of the chemical factory associated with inflammatory respose. BHT blocked the binge induced activity of the chemical factory associated with inflammatory response. This study suports inflammatory resposnses as causing binge ethanol induced brain damage.